QUESTION OF SPEED

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 26, 25 October 1919, Page 8

QUESTION OF SPEED

RECENT MOTOR-CYCLE FATALITY

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST

Mr. W; G. liiddell, S.M. over (in inquest which was held yesterday, afternoon info the circumstances of tho death of Frederick William Jollands, «-ho was instantly killed 011 Thorndon Quay on September 27 as tho result of a motor-cycle accident. Three men were ,'fding on tho machine, over which the driver lost control in turning the corner at the Davis Street crossing, and collided into a hoarding. Jollands being Killed, and his comnanions seriously injured.

Evidence was siven bv- Walter Stanton, motor "uraee proprietor, who was driving ft car in from Peton© vlion u motor cvclf. with three men on it, passed him at a speed of 5(1 to 55 miles an hour. The two men on tho carrier wero swayin sr from side to side.

I\'oel T. Wills motorman in the employ of tho Citv Tramways Department, who was an eye-witness of tho accident, estiroared thft fipced of the machine immediatelv wior to tho occurrence at about fifl miles an hour. Flames were issuing from the exhaust 0 fl f tho machine, and he had never before seen anything goinu so fast.

Alfred C. Kellett. motor mechanic, who examined the machine after the accident. said that tho controls and brakes were in perfect order and oven with passengers on tho back there should have been no difficulty in irettine around tho corner at a hieli speed. From his examination ho believed the machine was travelling at from 10 to 12 miles an hour at the time of tho accident. George Francis Sullivan, tramway conductor. in his evidence said that having missed the train from-JPefame, he obtained a lift into town on the motor cycle in question. The speed travelled at was moderate. All three men were perfectly sober.

The Driver's Story. William Gunter. a Civil Servant in the Internal Affairs Department, residing at 133 Sydney Street, said that on September 27 last he went to Petone on his motor-cycle, and he took the deceased with him. Deceased, who had never been on a motor-cyclo before, rode on the back of the machine on a cushion on the carriage. On the rood baolc to Wellington they stopped .to look for an oilcan. While thus engaged they met the witness Sullivan, ivho asked for a ride back to town. Witness agreed and gave him a, ride. This made three passengors. After leaving Kaiwarra witness "opened up" a speed of 35 to 4(1 miles an hour while the road was good, and continued that pace for ahout linlf a mile. He then slackened off. The engine was in lovely order, but he was somewhat, crowded on account of having a third' passenger. Approaching Thorndon the road got very rough, and when he turned the corner near Davis Street tho machine banked over and witness lost control through the third passenger (deceased) pinning bis arms down. Witness attempted to put on the brakes, but tho clutch slipped and the machine ran up on the footpath.' This yas the last lie remembered. Before leaving Wellington witness had half a bottle of English ale. This was all the liquor he had. Deceased was a very temperate man. Deceased was sitting immediately behind witness on the machine.

To Mr. O'Regan: Deceased had never ridden on a motor-cycle before. If deceased. had not held his arms lie (witness) would have been able to negotiate the corner in safety. The Coroner, in returning a verdict of accidental death, said that he was not prepared to find that the driver Gu.nter could not have negotiated the corner in safety but for the action of tho deceased in clutching hira around the arms and temporarily lessening his control of tho machine.